I believe that practically anyone can learn to draw. Discovering your potential to create art can be an exhilarating journey. Many believe that the ability to draw is a talent bestowed upon a chosen few. However, I stand to challenge that notion with a simple yet revealing exercise. The following exercise will determine whether or not you are capable enough to learn to draw like a master. I guarantee It works or double your money back.
The Steps
Step 1. Find a pencil or any such writing utensil, and some copy paper. You can use notebook paper too but the lines might be distracting.
Step 2. Write your first and last name. Try to make it nice, not too small. There is no time limit. You can use a ruler to make a faint line underneath if you have difficulty writing straight without lines.
Step 3. Under your name, draw a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, and a triangle anywhere on the page, not too small. Try to make them as neat as you can. No time limit.
Step 4. Get someone to read your name, and tell you what shapes you drew.
The Results (Practically Anyone Can Learn To Draw)
Are you as excited as I am to hear the results? probably more so because your entire future as an artist hangs in the balance. If the person you asked to read your name and identity the shapes, was able to, and is not a baby or pet, then congratulations! You have the mechanical potential to create stunning artworks. Beyond that, it’s a significant leap toward understanding that art, in its essence, is about communication and connection. It’s not just about how realistic it is or hard it was to make, Art is also about successfully conveying an idea.
How Can it Be?
You might be thinking “How is this supposed to prove Anything? Not anyone can learn to draw. I can’t draw, I can’t even make a straight line. I’m not creative. Etc.” The truth is that the tools you gathered in step 1 are all you need to get started. The lines and shapes you made in steps 2 and 3 are essentially every line and shape you would ever have to make in any artwork.
All things can be simplified into basic shapes and everything can be built by combining basic shapes into compound shapes. When you know this, you can potentially draw anything. The quality of Art is not determined by innate talent but about understanding and manipulating basic components. As for creativity, for some it comes easy, for others not so much; but it can and will be learned too. Check out my post on how to boost your creativity here!
As for drawing, I’ll prove you can if you’re willing to try. In the next post, I will teach you how to make your very first observational drawing!
